Steven Tyler is thanking fans, doctors and his guardian “angel” after surviving a nasty tumble at a concert earlier this month.

Tyler was airlifted to Rapid City Hospital after falling off the stage while performing at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota on August 5, 2009.

He broke his left shoulder and needed 20 stitches on the back of his head and the band has subsequently cancelled the remainder of its summer tour.

Now the veteran rocker has spoken out in a lengthy statement, released on Thursday, to explain the accident and praise those who saved his life.

Tyler explains the gig first took a turn for the worse when thunderstorms caused an hour-long delay, and audio systems malfunctioned shortly after the band took to the stage.

He says, “Well, I wasn’t gonna go hide under the big top and play ‘ROCK STAR’ and wait for everything to be fixed. I wanted to go out to the crowd to continue the show. I was doing the Tyler shuffle and then I zigged when I should have zagged… AND I slipped, and as I live on the edge… I fell off the edge!”

The 61 year old thanks fans for their “love and support” and heaps praise on the police department and helicopter operators “for getting me outta there before I bled to death”.

He also acknowledges the doctors and nurses who looked after him as well as “the angel on my shoulder”.

Source, Bauer-Griffin